Pay Day for Dumani Primary School

Public and private partnerships are critical in addressing South Africa and Nelson Mandela Bay’s imbalances of the past and improve the quality of education in the previously disadvantaged areas.

That was the clear message from Nelson Mandela Bay’s Executive Mayor, Danny Jordaan, when he jointly handed over two Grade R classrooms to Dumani Primary School in Motherwell today, 12 May 2016.

The classroom were donated through a partnership between the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Mayoral Office and the Mark Headbush Foundation. The Foundation organises the annual Mayoral Golf Day, during which business people and businesses are invited to pledge money for the benefit of disadvantaged public and non-governmental institutions.

Last year’s Mayoral Golf Day identified a number of schools in Motherwell, Walmer and Cholchester, who were then asked to identify their most urgent needs. Dumani Primary School identified the challenge of overcrowding as an issue that had a negative effect on learning and teaching.

Speaking at the hand-over, Executive Mayor Jordaan said that education might be a competency of provincial and national government, but that schools are situated in local government territory. He added that a failed education system and poor facilities directly affected local government.

“Because of the challenges that are faced by the Education Department and the huge work that still needs to be done to address the imbalances of the past, we cannot simply fold our arms as municipalities. We need to mobilise every resource available and build partnerships with private sector and community-based organisations. That is the only way that we can improve our education system, as education is a societal matter, not just for teachers and learners,” said Executive Mayor Jordaan.

A Grade R learner, Asondele Nyweba, who touched the heart of audience members, thanked the Executive Mayor and Headbush Foundation Chairman, Mark Headbush, for the donation. “I want to thank the Mayor and Tata u Headbush for giving us these classrooms. They have come at a perfect time, when winter is starting, we will now study in warmth and comfort. This will encourage us to study hard. We call upon them and other business people to do this to other schools who are less priviledged like us,” said Nyweba.

School Principal, Simphiwe Mkhangelwa said: “I want to thank Mr Headbush for this generosity, it is so important what we are celebrating today. We need to protect our schools and safeguard them, I also want to thank the sponsors who helped to make the golf day a success.”

Headbush Foundation Chairman, Mark Headbush, commented that primary schools were among their focus areas. “Primary education is the most important phase in a learning process of a child. It is all our duty to contribute as much as we can to improve the conditions of teaching and learning in this phase. I call on the private sector to join hands with improve the situation in our schools, by doing we will be building a bright future for our country. ”
Other beneficiaries from the proceeds of the Mayoral Golf Day are, Shine Priject Walmer Primary School, Little Angels Preschool and Colchester Primary School.

The following sponsors were part of the project:
Transnet (Port terminal), Engen, Coca-cola, Agoa fm, VW, Standard Bank, Community Chest, BMW, SAB Miller, Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and many others.

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